Students at University of Staffordshire are among the first in the country to complete a new degree apprenticeship helping to address a national shortage of maths teachers.
The university’s Teacher Degree Apprenticeship (TDA) in Secondary Mathematics allows trainees to earn a salary working in schools, while studying for a degree and gaining qualified teacher status (QTS).
It is one of six providers piloting the Department for Education Initiative and of the 54 apprentices enrolled nationally, 14 are studying in Staffordshire.
Course Director Kate Dale said: “Apprenticeships are well established in areas like nursing and policing, but not in teaching. Recruiting and retaining maths teachers is a challenge for many schools, so we have worked collaboratively with our partners to design this alternative route into the profession.
“Many of our students have come from outside of Staffordshire to train with us. So, we’re also now bringing people into the region to teach who wouldn’t have otherwise.”
The apprentices spend most of their time teaching in one of 13 partner schools, alongside 40 per cent off-the-job learning over four years. For many, the paid, hands-on model has made teaching possible for the first time.
Student Kyle Brotherton-Chidlaw, who has worked as a youth worker for the past decade, said: “I always wanted to be a maths teacher but no one in my family had been to university and it was never an option financially. This was the only way I was ever going to become a teacher. It’s tailor-made for people like me who can’t afford to stop earning while they study.”
TDA is looking to work with more schools to support the next intake of apprentices.
Course Leader Matt Linney said: “Schools that employ trainees as part of the pilot will receive financial incentives to support with apprentice salary costs. We’re collaborating with schools locally but also across the country, so the distance from the university shouldn’t put off schools from considering working with us.”
- Daily Focus is running an editorial campaign to promote National Apprenticeship Week, which starts on Monday. Click here to read other stories.
- University of Staffordshire is holding an Apprenticeship Fair at its Stoke-on-Trent campus on Saturday, 7 February between 9am and 3pm. For more information, follow this link.
- A free online webinar about the University’s teaching apprenticeships will take place between 3.35pm and 4.45pm on Thursday, 12 February. Find out more here.
